The wraith hovered beside Eira, giving no sign of imminent attack.
Eira admired the creature of smoke and shadow. Her smile was full of pleasure while she gazed upon the thing she’d summoned.
Cian spoke again. “You command these creatures now?”
“As she should,” Bosque answered Cian. “The power was hers to take and mine to give.”
“But she gave you something in return,” Cian said slowly. “Didn’t she?”
“Your sister simply strengthened the bond we already share. In doing so, she opened a door between the earth and the nether,” Bosque told her, gesturing to the split trunk of the sacred tree. “Now we may enjoy a true alliance.”
“An alliance?” Cian was gripping her sword hilt now, her knuckles bloodless.
“An end to this war we’ve waged for so long, dear Cian.” Eira spoke calmly, but a new fever burned in her eyes. “For that which we’ve toiled against now serves at our pleasure.”
Cian released her sword, but her shoulders remained tense. “I don’t understand.”
“Then I shall explain,” Eira replied. “But let us speak alone, as sisters.”
“And will your creature accompany us?” Cian asked. Alistair assumed she referred to the wraith, but Cian’s eyes flitted to Bosque.
“I said alone.” Eira waved her hand and the shadow guard vanished.
Cian drew a slow breath. “You’re powerful.”
Eira’s laugh was almost girlish, her cheeks flushed with exhilaration. “What’s mine shall be yours, too. Come with me and learn.”
Taking Cian’s arm, Eira drew her sister to the door and into the corridor.
Still marveling at what he’d seen, Alistair moved as if in a trance. He thought to seek his bed and quiet his mind.
“A moment, Lord Hart.” Bosque’s call stopped Alistair from following the sisters from the hall.
Alistair waited for Bosque to approach. Just as Eira had seemed more wild and alive, Alistair saw that the tall man had been changed by the ritual. The silver of his eyes gleamed brighter; the air around him shimmered as though moved by a fire that burned within Bosque’s form.
Seizing on an unexpected surge of courage, Alistair said, “There’s more to it, isn’t there?”
Bosque didn’t answer, but watched Alistair calmly.
Encouraged that he’d met no resistance, Alistair continued. “Lady Eira can summon your creatures now, and can do so without your aid.”
“Is her new talent something you envy, Lord Hart?”
It was Alistair’s turn to remain silent.
With a stiff smile, Bosque told him, “Opening the rift imbued Lady Eira with power drawn from the nether. She can command some of those beings I rule.”
“Only some?” Alistair asked.
“Eira is still human,” Bosque answered. “Of this world. Though she’s mingled her blood with mine, there are creatures who would overwhelm her. Those beasts can be summoned and commanded by my will alone.”
Alistair considered Bosque’s words, then said, “The Lyulf. Did I truly command them?”
Bosque’s laugh was a low rumble. “You’re clever, Lord Hart. That is why I see so much potential in you.”
“The fire wolves obeyed me only because you ordered them to do so,” Alistair said, a bit crestfallen. “And Eira would not be able to summon them to serve her.”
“No,” Bosque said. “The Lyulf are too purely linked to the nether to be ruled by a mere human.”
Catching Alistair’s flinch, Bosque quickly added, “Even one so great as Lady Eira or one so perceptive as you.”
Alistair nodded and Bosque spoke again. “Opening the rift frees me to move through your world without being tethered to the one whose will first brought me.”
“If you’re free to leave Eira, why would you remain to aid us?” Alistair asked, taken aback.
“This is your world, Lord Hart,” Bosque said. “Not mine. An alliance with an order as powerful as Conatus may serve Eira’s purpose here, but it also serves my own purposes in the nether. That is my home, and while I will give
Eira admired the creature of smoke and shadow. Her smile was full of pleasure while she gazed upon the thing she’d summoned.
Cian spoke again. “You command these creatures now?”
“As she should,” Bosque answered Cian. “The power was hers to take and mine to give.”
“But she gave you something in return,” Cian said slowly. “Didn’t she?”
“Your sister simply strengthened the bond we already share. In doing so, she opened a door between the earth and the nether,” Bosque told her, gesturing to the split trunk of the sacred tree. “Now we may enjoy a true alliance.”
“An alliance?” Cian was gripping her sword hilt now, her knuckles bloodless.
“An end to this war we’ve waged for so long, dear Cian.” Eira spoke calmly, but a new fever burned in her eyes. “For that which we’ve toiled against now serves at our pleasure.”
Cian released her sword, but her shoulders remained tense. “I don’t understand.”
“Then I shall explain,” Eira replied. “But let us speak alone, as sisters.”
“And will your creature accompany us?” Cian asked. Alistair assumed she referred to the wraith, but Cian’s eyes flitted to Bosque.
“I said alone.” Eira waved her hand and the shadow guard vanished.
Cian drew a slow breath. “You’re powerful.”
Eira’s laugh was almost girlish, her cheeks flushed with exhilaration. “What’s mine shall be yours, too. Come with me and learn.”
Taking Cian’s arm, Eira drew her sister to the door and into the corridor.
Still marveling at what he’d seen, Alistair moved as if in a trance. He thought to seek his bed and quiet his mind.
“A moment, Lord Hart.” Bosque’s call stopped Alistair from following the sisters from the hall.
Alistair waited for Bosque to approach. Just as Eira had seemed more wild and alive, Alistair saw that the tall man had been changed by the ritual. The silver of his eyes gleamed brighter; the air around him shimmered as though moved by a fire that burned within Bosque’s form.
Seizing on an unexpected surge of courage, Alistair said, “There’s more to it, isn’t there?”
Bosque didn’t answer, but watched Alistair calmly.
Encouraged that he’d met no resistance, Alistair continued. “Lady Eira can summon your creatures now, and can do so without your aid.”
“Is her new talent something you envy, Lord Hart?”
It was Alistair’s turn to remain silent.
With a stiff smile, Bosque told him, “Opening the rift imbued Lady Eira with power drawn from the nether. She can command some of those beings I rule.”
“Only some?” Alistair asked.
“Eira is still human,” Bosque answered. “Of this world. Though she’s mingled her blood with mine, there are creatures who would overwhelm her. Those beasts can be summoned and commanded by my will alone.”
Alistair considered Bosque’s words, then said, “The Lyulf. Did I truly command them?”
Bosque’s laugh was a low rumble. “You’re clever, Lord Hart. That is why I see so much potential in you.”
“The fire wolves obeyed me only because you ordered them to do so,” Alistair said, a bit crestfallen. “And Eira would not be able to summon them to serve her.”
“No,” Bosque said. “The Lyulf are too purely linked to the nether to be ruled by a mere human.”
Catching Alistair’s flinch, Bosque quickly added, “Even one so great as Lady Eira or one so perceptive as you.”
Alistair nodded and Bosque spoke again. “Opening the rift frees me to move through your world without being tethered to the one whose will first brought me.”
“If you’re free to leave Eira, why would you remain to aid us?” Alistair asked, taken aback.
“This is your world, Lord Hart,” Bosque said. “Not mine. An alliance with an order as powerful as Conatus may serve Eira’s purpose here, but it also serves my own purposes in the nether. That is my home, and while I will give
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